04 with stereo with nav cd player problems

[danno85]

Hi everyone. My wife purchased an 04 Z4 roadster and of course whenever you buy something new it breaks. LOL The stereo is the one with nav. Sorry I can't give you tons of information, I am really new to BMW's. It just started having stereo problems. It started off where it would not eject the CD that was in the player. Then if the weather was cool and the car was off or in the first five minutes of starting it you could hit eject and it would do it. Then if you inserted another CD the same problem would start again. The dealer told me that they could replace the CD player part inside the stereo but not the stereo itself. It would cost me $800 and that seemed awful steep. Not to mention that I'm not sure that is even the problem. Then the wife wanted to know if it could be changed with a new one out of the E89 Z's that have IPod connections and aux inputs and all that. The dealer again said no but he was really unsure of himself. The BMW dealer here in Albuquerque doesn't have the highest quality mechanics. My last question is this: if I put an aftermarket stereo in the car do I lose use of the navigation system since the controls for it are on the stock head unit? Thank you in advance for any and all information that you can provide!

Dan

 

[Dev]

Hi Dan,

I'm assuming you have an E85 with navigation (with the in-dash cd player and the flip-up screen) so here goes...
as far as I know, the CD unit in the dash (below the vents) is needed for the navigation function - if you were to replace it with an aftermarket product, you'd lose the inbuilt navigation altogether, you'd just have a redundant flip-up screen on the upper dash and a redundant dvd drive between the seats. If the CD player is the only thing that is at fault, see if you can either get a replacement "CID" head unit for the E85 perhaps through ebay, or you have a couple of alternatives;
1. ditch using CDs - if you don't have aux/ipod connectivity but would be happy with using an mp3 player, this can be a pretty cheap and simple work around
2. get the 6 CD changer that fits inbetween the seats (below the dvd drive for the navigation) - again you may be able to get this cheaper from ebay, if I remember correctly the same unit is used in other BMW's of the period - someone on here may be better able to confirm this.

I hope all of the above is correct, sorry if I've gotten anything wrong and I hope it helps!

Dev

PS - welcome to the forum! Introduce yourself in the Newbies section, preferably with a pic or two of your car!

 

[danno85]

Thank you for the welcome!

I will look up the changer or I have heard there is a MP3 player that connects into the changer plug? I was also just reading a post one of the members had on here about building your own 3.5mm audio jack that plugs directly into the back of the head unit. My wife was fussing because she assumes since the CD player in her car went the way of old yeller, every other head unit of the same model is bound to as well. I was looking them up on E-Bay a little earlier and they seem to go for around $450. A buddy of mine works in an audio shop however knows very little about BMW's. He seems to remember hearing that the 03 through around 07 Z4's had an issue with the head units going out. I know it will irritate me to have an in-dash CD player that doesn't work despite the fact that I would have 6 behind me that do. LOL That being said I may just piss her off and buy one online anyways. :evil: For the CD changer would all the wiring already be present even though the changer itself is not installed? Thanks for all the good info! Now it is off to the Newbies section to introduce myself.

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

It can be changed 100% with a newer stereo with iPod integration. but the newer stereos are black not dark gray. So you will want to change the vents above the stereo to black as well just so it all matches. It's plug n play.

 

[srhutch]

It can be changed 100% with a newer stereo with iPod integration. but the newer stereos are black not dark gray. So you will want to change the vents above the stereo to black as well just so it all matches. It's plug n play.

The newer models don't have iPod intergration, they just enable you to play mp3 CD's.

iPod integration is available for all E85 head units by various means from AUX, thorugh to true iPod integration such as Dension or Intravee

 

[danno85]

So a stereo out of a 2009/2010 would fit my 2004? I just have to change the vents so they match then. Is there any particular reason the dealer would tell me it wouldn't fit other than the color difference? Or are they just not allowed to say anything fits a different year ever?

 

[srhutch]

Stereo from E89 won't fit, only from an E85, but you can easily swap the grey panel over from your's onto the donor black unit.

 

[danno85]

Does it just pop off the front of the head unit? This may also be as silly question but they are interchangeable from all E85's right? As long as I find a unit that came out of a Nav equipped car? Also, which years of the E85 had the AUX input? Thanks for your help!

 

[srhutch]

Any nav radio from an E85 will be fine. I haven't swapped the panel myself but i know it's been done by somebody on here and was easy to do.

AUX is available again on any unit as the interface exists, you just need the lead.

 

[danno85]

Awesome, thanks for all your help. The wife currently took the car to Texas for a few days to see her parents so I will have to be patient and wait for her return. I will give units a look on Ebay and let y'all know what I decide to do. Thanks again!

 

[jodale]

Awesome, thanks for all your help. The wife currently took the car to Texas for a few days to see her parents so I will have to be patient and wait for her return. I will give units a look on Ebay and let y'all know what I decide to do. Thanks again!

Hey Danno85 - I have the exact same problem with my 04 3.0i. I have posted requests for help on several forums trying to figure out this CD player problem. Like you said - you put a CD in and you can't get it out untill the next day. The dealer has been no help and I've had it. I've been looking at after market stereos but I really don't like the look of them. I too have looked at Ebay for a replacement but I think I'll be spending a couple of hundred dollars to end up with the same problem. I would greatly appreciate it if you would email me with details of your your success. - [email protected]. Thanks :headbang:

Sorry to say - I was so glad to read someone else has the same problem and I'm not loosing my mind. What does 24 hours have to do with it working I don't know but it does.

 

[danno85]

Glad I'm not crazy too! I heard about the same problem from another guy in Dallas with an 04 also. I wonder if the problem is on the stereos from that particular year? She extended her trip until Friday so it will have to wait until then. I think if I get one off of E-Bay I will try to find one out of a newer model. Also there are a couple on there with a 30 day guarantee so at least I know it won't be FUBARed on the first day! Let you know how it goes. I hate the dealer!

 

[alirms]

I have an 04 2.5i with the exact same problem. I would like to upgrade to a system with aux input for my iPod. While it would be nice to have a working CD player, I would be satisfied with the iPod input. Can someone point me in the right direction what/where to buy? I'm asking for specifics (brand/website/etc). I do not have the nav option like the previous poster. My Z4 is silver with a black interior.
Thanks!
Alicia

 

[VvrooomM]

Are you guys sure it will not need coding if it came out of a car without nav??

CD's are dead - AUX, iPod interface, dennison, intravee, dice are the future for at most the same money as a second hand head unit.

 

[srhutch]

Are you guys sure it will not need coding if it came out of a car without nav??

CD's are dead - AUX, iPod interface, dennison, intravee, dice are the future for at most the same money as a second hand head unit.

You can't use a stereo from a nav car in a non nav car as there is no display, if you fit the DVD drive and CID you can though, all without coding.

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

Sorry yes, I meant you can play MP3 CD's with a later model (2006-2008) e86 stereo.

If I'm not mistaken then you can find a (cheaper) stereo from an X3 which also uses the same stereo. The two knobs are a little different. On the X3 it has a chrome trim on them.. not a big deal. But usually the X3 parts are cheaper than the Z4 parts when checking with your local auto-wrecker or eBay.

(Since Z4's, X3's, and X5's were all built in the same factory, they share a lot of parts that they don't share with other BMW's. The seat belt-buckles are another example shared parts with the X3.)